Without a doubt the best thing about the Kilburn High Road is the way it moves and shifts almost daily.It reminds me of the phrase a old friend taught me "Everything has changed, yet nothing is different." It's that whatever the shops, the vibrancy, the verve and the pulse of Kilburn remains lives and pumping.
Now it's often said that much has changed in Kilburn - that it really isn't the same anymore. I understand these claims but in fact the country has changed - produce and clothes and goods have rarely been cheaper and more accessible for all.The old department stores of the 20's and 50's have long gone across across Britain and the supermarket is now dominant.
One of the objectives of this blog that has emerged and now is developed is that it captures Kilburn and Hampstead today - and by doing that preserves snap shots of change.
This set of pictures was one such change.No sooner had a store emptied then ye olde Poundland pounced. These pictures were taken on the sunday as the store rushed to get ready for the monday opening...
On of course the crucial thing with the open trading market that is places such as the Kilburn High Road is that the shops themselves live and die by the trade they can generate.
Now don't get me wrong, I do believe that much can be done to enhance and improve an area through direct action and economic measures that make an area better - but right now, new stores in Kilburn point to a live and an economy that is not dying, in fact it's growing and developing.
2 comments:
Pound stores???? Gimme a break!
Cheap junk produced by slave labour in China? Is this what you want?
Bring back the old department stores of old. A civilised, English way of life.
Kilburn has been destroyed by backward, third world immigrants. It's all kebab shops, shoddy fruit and veg shops and chicken take aways. A horrible street to walk down. I avoid it though I live here.
West End Lane thankfully has still retained some of it's English character.
I think the issue here is commercial activity - if the people who so want individual shops and old style department stores stopped going to supermarkets then there might be a chance of econmic survival.
But the shopping world has changed. I don't think Poundland alone is the solution, but they can't be driven off of the High Street.
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